A/CONF.171/13
English
Page 22
opportunities for information, education, jobs, skill development and relevant
reproductive health services, of all underserved members of society. 19/
3.20. Measures should be taken to strengthen food, nutrition and agricultural
policies and programmes, and fair trade relations, with special attention to the
creation and strengthening of food security at all levels.
3.21. Job creation in the industrial, agricultural and service sectors should
be facilitated by Governments and the private sector through the establishment
of more favourable climates for expanded trade and investment on an
environmentally sound basis, greater investment in human resource development
and the development of democratic institutions and good governance. Special
efforts should be made to create productive jobs through policies promoting
efficient and, where required, labour-intensive industries, and transfer of
modern technologies.
3.22. The international community should continue to promote a supportive
economic environment, particularly for developing countries and countries with
economies in transition in their attempt to eradicate poverty and achieve
sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable development. In the
context of the relevant international agreements and commitments, efforts should
be made to support those countries, in particular the developing countries, by
promoting an open, equitable, secure, non-discriminatory and predictable
international trading system; by promoting foreign direct investment; by
reducing the debt burden; by providing new and additional financial resources
from all available funding sources and mechanisms, including multilateral,
bilateral and private sources, including on concessional and grant terms
according to sound and equitable criteria and indicators; by providing access to
technologies; and by ensuring that structural adjustment programmes are so
designed and implemented as to be responsive to social and environmental
concerns.
C.
Population and environment
Basis for action
3.23. At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the
international community agreed on objectives and actions aimed at integrating
environment and development which were included in Agenda 21, other Conference
outcomes and other international environmental agreements. Agenda 21 has been
conceived as a response to the major environment and development challenges,
including the economic and social dimensions of sustainable development, such as
poverty, consumption, demographic dynamics, human health and human settlement,
and to a broad range of environmental and natural resource concerns. Agenda 21
leaves to the International Conference on Population and Development further
consideration of the interrelationships between population and the environment.
3.24. Meeting the basic human needs of growing populations is dependent on a
healthy environment. These human dimensions need to be given attention in
developing comprehensive policies for sustainable development in the context of
population growth.
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